March 18, 2013

Breast Cancer Symptoms

The purpose of this blog is to illuminate both medical and dental issues of interest.

Thanks to screening, breast cancer
often is found before a woman has any physical symptoms. Yet a woman should
know how her breasts normally look and feel so that she can report any unusual
changes to her doctor. Reasons to call your doctor include:

A
lump in or near your breast or under your arm

Thick
or firm tissue in or near your breast or under your arm

A
change in the size or shape of your breast

Nipple
discharge (fluid that is not breast
milk)

Nipple
changes, such as a nipple that turns inward (inverted) into the breast

Changes
to your breast skin, areola, or nipple, such as itching, redness, scaling,
dimpling, or puckering

Keep in mind that most breast changes
are not cancer. For instance, nipple discharge can be caused by birth control
pills, some medicines, and infections. Or, a breast lump could be a cyst, which
is a fluid-filled lump that is not cancer. Early breast cancer usually does not
cause pain. Still, if you notice a change in your breast or pain, call your doctor
and schedule a visit. Don't wait until your next checkup.